Understanding PTSD and How EMDR Can Help
What Is PTSD?
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, is a condition that some people develop after experiencing or witnessing something deeply disturbing, such as a car accident, assault, natural disaster, or war. PTSD is not a sign of weakness—it’s a natural response to overwhelming stress and a way that your brain is protecting you from further harm.
For the average person living with PTSD, the trauma doesn’t stay in the past. It shows up in the present. They might have flashbacks or nightmares, feel constantly on edge, or try hard to avoid anything that reminds them of the trauma. Even everyday situations—like being in traffic, hearing a loud noise, or watching a certain movie scene—can trigger intense fear, panic, or sadness. Relationships can suffer. Sleep may be difficult. Work or school performance might decline. It can feel like the trauma is always there, just beneath the surface.
What Is EMDR?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a therapy designed to help people process and heal from traumatic memories. It’s different from traditional talk therapy because in EMDR, you don’t have to describe your trauma in detail. You don’t have to re-live it or be stuck in it. Instead, you engage your brain in a way that allows it to finally “digest” and file away the painful memory.
The idea behind EMDR is simple: when we go through something traumatic, our brain sometimes doesn’t finish processing the experience. It’s like a file that gets stuck open on a computer—draining energy and causing glitches. EMDR helps the brain close that file in a healthy way so that you start feeling distant and detached from the traumatic event.
How Does EMDR Work?
During EMDR, a trained/certified EMDR therapist will guide you to briefly focus on a traumatic memory—just enough to activate it—but not so much that you get overwhelmed. At the same time, you’ll be doing something rhythmic or back-and-forth with your body, such as moving your eyes side to side, tapping your hands alternately, or listening to sounds in alternating ears. This is called bilateral stimulation.
While this may sound strange at first, the process helps the brain reprocess the memory. The emotion, physical tension, and negative beliefs connected to it (like “I’m not safe” or “It was my fault”) begin to soften. Over time, the memory remains, but it no longer carries the same emotional charge. You might still remember what happened, but it feels more distant and less painful—like something that’s truly in the past.
After several sessions, most people report feeling lighter, more relaxed, and less haunted by their past.
How EMDR Helps with Daily Life
For someone with PTSD, even minor stressors can feel like a threat. The nervous system stays stuck in survival mode—fight, flight, fawn, or freeze. This can make it hard to trust others, handle conflict, or enjoy life. EMDR helps the brain move out of this alarm state and into a more balanced one. As the trauma is processed, people often find they’re sleeping better, feeling less anxious, and reacting more calmly to things that used to upset them.
Many people also report a shift in self-esteem. They move from thinking “I’m broken” to “I survived, and I’m healing.” That change can ripple out into relationships, work, and overall well-being.
Is EMDR Right for Everyone?
EMDR has been studied for decades and is recognized as an effective treatment for PTSD by organizations like the World Health Organization, the American Psychological Association and the Department of Veterans Affairs. It’s also been used successfully for anxiety, depression, grief, and other emotional challenges.
However, not everyone is ready to jump into trauma work right away. A good therapist will assess your readiness, teach you coping skills, and go at a pace that works for you. The goal is always safety and healing—not re-traumatization.
How to find an EMDR certified therapist?
At Long Beach Therapy, Amie Lowery-Luyties is certified in EMDR. Give us a call/text to schedule your first appointment at 562-310-9741.